Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 15 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($304,500 vs $415,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 102°F
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 3.3%)
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
St. George, UT
Pros
61% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 32°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$2,340
$71,673 vs $69,333/yr
Chicago
Median Home Value
$111k less
$304,500 vs $415,200
St. George
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
61% lower
210.0 vs 539.8 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
20.9°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 15 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 8 and St. George wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Chicago to St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $415,200 median home), income ($71,673 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and St. George, UT are about 1,414 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.